A Troy Police canine's dog toy was stolen and later recovered during training on April 5.
Around 7:30 p.m., officers were in the field between a Holiday Inn Express, laying scent tracks to train the police canines. At the end of the track, the officer left one on the police canine's dog toy that he would be searching for.
Police say while leaving the area, an unknown man was yelling at the officer from his hotel room through an open window, demanding to know what he was doing. The K-9 officer said he was training police canines and told him not to touch the police property he left behind in the field.
The officer left to start the canine track some distance away, but when the police canine successfully followed the scent, the dog toy was not where it was left.
Through the officer's investigation, it was determined that the man staying at the hotel was a 40-year-old man from North Carolina. The officer located the man's white Ford Econoline van in the parking lot.
The officer looked inside the van and could see the police canine's toy in one of the cup holders. While the vehicle was being impounded, the suspect came out, inquiring as to what was happening.
He was given a Misdemeanor Citation for Larceny of Police Propery and police canine Eli got his toy ball back.
Police say Eli is happy that his ball has been recovered.
